World Cup safe despite Messi poster

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Argentina’s ambassador to Russia, Ricardo Lagorio, has moved to reassure fans that next year’s World Cup will be safe.

A pro-ISIS media group this week issued a threat to carry out an attack at the World Cup in Russia next year with a poster of Barcelona star and Argentina captain Lionel Messi crying tears of blood.

-The image is very strong. The first thing I want to send is my support to Messi and his family because it’s very unpleasant. He’s the main person affected from this brutal and painful image. I have no doubt that the Russian government and the Russian football federation will fully guarantee the safety of the World Cup, of the fans and of the tourists. I would like to call for calm and to ask people that will come from all over the world to do so without concerns, Lagoria said of the poster to TyCSports.

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Argentina won 3-1 at Ecuador earlier this month thanks to a hat trick from Messi in their final World Cup qualifier to join South American sides Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay in next year’s tournament.

Argentina, coached by Jorge Sampaoli, travel to Moscow to face Russia in an international friendly on Nov. 11 at the Luzhniki Stadium.

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